by Sasha M
Last December, union Star-bucks workers in Northampton joined a nationwide Unfair Labor Practice Strike. With support from the WMALF, other unions, and community groups, Starbucks baristas held down the picket line from December 18th until the strike’s conclusion on December 24th.
Starbucks workers went on strike after four years without a contract and years of illegal union-busting tactics by Starbucks. Workers in Buffalo, NY organized their location in 2021, and since then hundreds of stores have joined Starbucks Workers United.
The company has responded with a record-breaking union busting campaign. They have fired hundreds of union organizers in retaliatory firing and committed hundreds of other unfair labor practices. SBWU has accused Starbucks of failing to bargain in good-faith and imposing changes to working conditions without consulting the union.
SBWU demands improved hours to address understaffing and impossible work-life balances. Baristas on the Northampton picket line reported that they were required to offer near-open availability while being scheduled part-time, making holding a second job almost impossible.
SBWU is also demanding higher take home pay, citing the high cost of living and skyrocketing executive compensation.
The strike has paid dividends for organizing. Since the strike began, 21 locations filed for a union election, and seven more locations won their union election during the strike. There are now 665 unionized Starbucks locations, with 46 open elections.
In Northampton, baristas joined the strike on December 18th, picketing to ask customers to shop elsewhere and take the No Contract, No Coffee Pledge. While management kept the store open with scab labor from other stores, they could only keep the store open for a fraction of its typical hours.
Union baristas were joined on the picket line by members of WMALF affiliate unions, including UFCW Local 1459, SEIU 509, UAW 2322, MNA, and IUPAT. The WMALF organized a local strike fund, raising $3,500 to ensure that striking baristas could pay their bills this December.
While a majority of workers returned to work on December 24th, the union continues to call on customers to sign the No Contract, No Coffee pledge. Join them at nocontractnocoffee.org!